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Tumours express, as ‘non-self’ proteins, mutated self proteins, viral gene products, and oncofetal antigens. These proteins often induce non-protective host immune responses, demonstrable as circulating antibody. There should therefore be the possibility of inducing host protective immune response through immunisation against these proteins, although to date this has not proven a successful strategy for treatment of human tumours. Recent advances in understanding of the physiological regulation of immune responses has led to development of a number of non-antigen specific regulators of host immunity, termed checkpoint blockade inhibitors. Administration of these biologics, by inhibiting mechanisms designed to curtail immune responses no longer required, can result in immune mediated control and in some cases resolution of solid organ tumours including squamous lung and kidney cancers, and melanoma. Research is currently focused on defining biomarkers that will predict, or indicate, responsiveness to treatment.
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